This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/11/2016
Over the past decade, Mile High Card Company has had the absolute pleasure of offering a total of 53 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards, ranging from among the very best the hobby has to offer all the way down to examples that were so worn that they were barely recognizable. Of course the large majority of those cards came in somewhere in the middle, a mid-grade specimen that offered superior traits in some respects while sacrificing some quality of others. We've been doing this long enough to know that hobbyists have a unique perspective when it comes to acquiring a '52 Mantle, accepting the third party grade as a general basis to determine value and then skewing higher or lower based on personal preference, which is why we try to be as detailed and accurate as possible. The featured card is conservatively graded SGC 60 EX 5, and from our point of view, is one of the most aesthetically pleasing examples we've ever seen at this grade level. Most, but not all, prospective buyers tend to favor centering, and if that's the case for you, this is a really extraordinary find. While it possesses a slight tilt of a degree or two counterclockwise, the centering at all four sides far surpasses the vast majority of mid-grade Mantles. The central image, usually the next most important aspect of the card to collectors, matches up equally as well with a vivid and robust image of Mantle against that familiar aqua-blue backdrop that shows no sign of blemishes or other unwanted surface marks. The corners show light rounding and enamel loss commensurate with a mid-grade example though projecting slightly better than EX at one corner with an alluring rough-cut along the bottom half of the right edge. The reverse is well-centered and largely problem-free with no obvious liabilities. SGC can probably recite valid technical reasons as to why this specimen didn't grade higher, but for those of you who have seen enough of these to know, this card is about as attractive at this grade level than just about any other out there!